My "Catch Up" Post

I am purposing *again* to make my blog a part of my life. I would like to say that the time away has been good and I have enjoyed just ‘living’; however, I have missed it more than I can express here in cyber world. I have found that even though I have not blogged life has gone on and I can live without writing about it. I do though, so love writing and I love journaling about our family life (even if no one but me reads it!)

This past fall we went into a major debt reduction (ore better put illumination) plan. We balanced our budget and special interest items in our life had to go (a concept our Governor understood and acted upon – go Walker!) Many things were cut from our spending list. We cut out extra trips into town and cut down our gas expense. (I will not even put on paper the amount of money we were spending when we were driving 45 minutes each day to take the kids to school!) We cut out almost all eating out; although Rob and I will steal away for a date now and then and share a plate at our local Chinese move and decided that we would use the local library for our internet needs. When you have to go somewhere in order to blog – well blogging time gets cut too.

Well, with all our cuts; and may I say, we could have made more; we were able to be debt free this past February. It was a wonderful feeling! About the same time as our debt was taken care of, God began to show us the next chapter of our lives. I would like to say that change is very easy for me; but alas, it is not. I confront any change with kicking and screaming (mostly in my head and heart and not where anyone passing by our house can hear!) Well, the new chapter that God was showing to us revealed that we would be moving over 1,000 miles away. That many miles can mean only one thing – c.h.a.n.g.e. (Did I mention that I do not do well with change?)

Well, God has given peace and we are heading south in five weeks. With the move, we will be adding internet to the house and I will be able to blog more. God has provided a buyer for our house, a house down South that is everything we have ever desired and a good church for us to plug into and get involved in. I can write with full honesty, that I am SO excited about the move that is before us. (If you knew how hard this has been for me, you would be surprised that I write the word excited in a post about our Southern move!)

 It is really wired blogging about our life when I have not kept up with it for so long (similar to trying to pray to God when it has been a while since I talked with Him – you feel like you have to catch up on everything before you can go on with what you are wanting to say for right now). So, with that said, that is what has been happening (in a nutshell – there has been so much that has happened in the past year). Now, I will start blogging about what IS happening and what I am doing *right* now.

So, stay tuned for more posts they are coming. I am ready to jump back and in and I cannot miss journaling about the big move in our lives. I want this recorded so I can look back and remember how we did it and the ways God made it all possible.

Thanks for sticking with me if you are an old reader (totally referring to the length of time you have been reading my blog – not any other meaning intended in that statement!) If you are a new reader, feel free to jump into our lives now as they are happening. No matter who you are or how long I have known you I am glad you are reading and I am especially glad I am blogging again. It feels so good to be back at the computer again.

Thanks for stopping by, I am so glad you did.

~Martie

Spelling at the Palace

Our Anna is ALL girl.   She is four and thinks that our house is her palace.  You will find her most days walking around in pretend dress up shoes and sunglasses.  She loves to comb her own hair; but prefers for you to cut her food - (she does not want to get her hands dirty).

Rob says that I play into her delusion.  What do you think?

Anna ( to Mom) - How do you spell princess?

Mom:  A - N - N - A.

Anna:  Oh, like my name.

Mom - That's right, just like your name.

Later that night.  Daddy was sitting in his chair reading his paper.

Anna:  Daddy, how do you spell princess?

Dad:  P-R-I-N  (Stops abruptly, as the little one in front of him bursts into tears)

Anna:  (Crying)  That's not how you spell princess.

Dad:  How do you spell princess?

Anna:  (Anna, wiping away tears)  A -N -N- A

Rob:  (Sounding quite authoritative)  Martie!

I thank God everyday that He has allowed me to be her Mommy.  Such a precious wonderful gift.  Trust today you were able to enjoy the gifts God has given to you.

Thanks for stopping by, I am so glad you did.

Blessings,
~Martie

A Hero Comes Home

This past week has been filled with sadness and tears.  This young man who grew up in our town was killed in Afghanistan when a bomb exploded.  Suddenly his life was ended and in a few short hours our town was buzzing with the news.

Yellow ribbons went up all over town.

Flags were lowered.

Patriotism grew in our hearts as we realized one of our own had paid the ultimate price.

War came home - and it hurt.

Life seemed to come into a different view.  A view that you don't look through very often.

You see, he grew up in the same town that my son is growing up in.  He rode his bike down the same streets that my son does.  He went to work with his Dad just like my son is doing right now.  The same coach that coached my son in football this fall also coached this fallen hero not too many years ago.

So, we paid our respects.  We stood on the street corner and watched as the hero was brought home to be honored and mourned - at the same time.

We listened as the gun gave their salute.  It was with my hand over my heart and tears running down my cheeks that I stood and listened to that sounds.  So deafening.  So final. So sad.  And I wanted to grasp my son close to my chest and weep.  I wanted to hold him tight and never let go.

The final salute to this hero came on Sunday afternoon when military honors were given.  The casket was marched across the river by Marines dressed in their finest dress.  The guns gave their salute and taps was played.  Hundreds were there in attendance to say goodbye and to let the family know that they are not alone.

I thought about mixed emotions as I stood there.  How deeply his parents are grieving and yet how proud they are of their oldest son giving his life for our freedom.  I prayed for them.  I watched as a grieving mother clutched the neatly folded flag close her and broke down in tears.

This past week - we honored a hero.  We stood shoulder to shoulder as a community when the helicopter flew overhead.  We stood there in silence and felt the cold air from the propelling blades turn the air.  The quietness of so many people was, in and of itself, moving.  What a comfort it was to hear the hero's pastor read from the Bible the passage reminding us that we have hope.  How thankful I am for the hope of Heaven.

How thankful I am for this hero.  How my heart goes out to his family.   This past weekend we were reminded that freedom is never free.  We still mourn and pray for his family as they start down this path of grief.